Contrasting fortunes for FG in polls; Independents rise

Two opinion polls out tomorrow show starkly different results for the Government parties.

Fine Gael shows a massive decline in one survey, but actually increases support in the second, with Labour unchanged in one and down in another.

But it is Independents and others who make the gains over the main opposition parties.

In the Sunday Times Behaviour and Attitudes Poll, Fine Gael drops a whopping nine points to 21%.

That is just a point ahead of both Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin on 20% - who go up one and two points respectively.

Labour is unchanged on nine points, with Independents and Others making the gains, going up six points to 30%.

The poll was carried out at the end of the justice controversies and during the revelations about water charges, health savings shortfalls, and the Rehab controversy.

The second poll for the Sunday Independent paints a different picture.

The Millward Brown survey has Fine Gael gaining two points to 29%, and Labour dropping two points to 6% - their lowest level since the tracking poll began.

Fianna Fáil go up one to 22%, Sinn Féin drop two points to 20%, while Independents and others go up one to 23%.

The Sunday Independent Poll also shows more than half of voters think Alan Shatter should resign or be sacked by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny over the recent controversies surrounding the Administration of Justice.

Independent TD Mattie McGrath has been accused of misogyny after saying that the abortion debate isn't over until the fat lady sings, before quipping "and I'm not talking about the chairperson of the Committee or anyone like that".